Page 5 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 22 February 1994
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
about continuing undertaking of consultancies by the chairman and the general manager. At the same time we are finding that we are being told by Ainslie Village Ltd, "We cannot attend to matters because we are too busy". You have to decide whom you are serving and what you are doing.
Madam Speaker, the Government is determined to force through each and every one of the recommendations for change in the report of the board of inquiry. I took it, from the absence of any public debate on this report in this place when I tabled it, that it is the general view of members that this should be done, and I am pleased to see the Opposition indicating its support for that. The public should be aware that there is unanimity in this place on this matter - I hope that there is unanimity in this place; everyone seems to be nodding to that - and the recommendations of Mr Justice Kelly must be implemented. Attempts to block that process through legal wrangling or the like will be responded to appropriately by this Government. This facility, which is so important to homeless people, to people in crisis, the sort of people who have been identified by Burdekin, in relation to both homelessness and mental health, must run in their interests. This Government will achieve that.
ACTTAB - Contract with VITAB Ltd
MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is to the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Berry, in his capacity as Minister for Sport. I refer to his answer to the question asked by Mrs Carnell. Is the Minister aware of a report on the front page of yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald which has the ACTTAB's chief executive officer, Mr Philip Neck, confirming that a "Mr Peter Bartholomew was involved on behalf of VITAB in the latter stages of negotiations with the ACTTAB"? Can the Minister advise the Assembly whether he or ACTTAB was aware of the background of Mr Peter Bartholomew before negotiations with ACTTAB commenced? Was he or ACTTAB aware that Mr Bartholomew had been named in the Costigan royal commission? Was he or ACTTAB further aware that Mr Bartholomew has been arrested twice with a Mr Alan Tripp, who has been convicted of illegal SP bookmaking at least three times? Do any of these facts ring alarm bells in the Minister's mind? If so, will he now commence a public inquiry into the VITAB issue?
MR BERRY: Following the article which appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald of 21 February, the acting secretary of DELP sought advice on the matters raised in that article. As a result of these inquiries I am advised that Mr Peter Bartholomew attended only one brief meeting, on 21 July 1993, and was not involved in any other negotiations. The chairman of - - -
Mrs Carnell: Yes, this is the point.
MR BERRY: They do not want to hear the answer. They ask the question, but if they cannot get an answer which makes them entirely happy they grizzle and groan.
Mr Humphries: That is right; we get upset. We cannot get an answer.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .